Express Yourself

“We’re still allowed to say that, aren’t we?” – We live in an era in which freedom of expression is writ large and is one of the most important parts of our democracy. Everyone can say what they want on the internet and what they say is also heard and/or read by large numbers of people. Speech has great power and this power brings a great responsibility, something we all must be aware of. Yet a person’s freedom to say anything can quickly restrict another person’s freedom – especially when what is said is hurtful, offensive or defamatory. But how do we deal with hate speech, fake news and right-wing populism without betraying the value of freedom of expression? The tension between regulation and absolute freedom becomes repeatedly evident in debates around censorship on the internet. To protect our own freedom of expression, we must also grant it to people whose opinion we do not share. But where should regulations intervene and how can we engage with people who have opinions different than our own without falling into the trap of intolerance?